Hey guys... we meet again early, right? I'm trying my best to be able to get back to the main plot, and finish this past story as quickly as possible... say, the longest is two months, but I hope It's finished in one month. Therefore, maybe this chapter will be a little longer than usual. So, prepare yourself...
I see... some of you might misinterpret if Blu's father is a writer in my previous chapter. So, Blu's father is not a writer, but his mother is. Well, I think it's natural because the previous chapter I wrote with a little rush, so maybe some of you are confused. But I hope in this chapter, I will be able to answer all your confusion... especially about Blu's father's background.
Happy reading...
"Congratulations on your third place, big brother...!" My little sister, Lisa, congratulated me with a cheerful tone, waiting for me in the courtyard of the town hall which began to quiet after its busy activities half an hour ago. She sat on a bench under the tree...
She looks so cute when she says like that, what's more... her cheerful smile is beyond cute. I am truly grateful to have a little sister like her, even though this year I went down two places, due to these two new writers, my full sense of disappointment faded away after seeing a scenery that beat up the view of the lake itself.
"Is that a compliment? I went down two places, you know..." I replied in a slightly teasing tone.
As usual as last year, only me with my sister who came to the city hall. Our parents are still busy with their work, even though now it should be a summer holiday. They said if they could finish their work as much as they could, they could enjoy an early summer vacation. And of course, they also said the exact same thing as last year, and perhaps, the same as last year... it will never happen.
"What about me?" Emy suddenly cut off my conversation with my sister, "I got second place, you know. I... Have... Defeated... Your... Brother..." she then looked at me with a grin.
"Please don't say that phrase with emphasis." I commented scathingly, while she giggled.
"Problem?" Emy still grinned teasingly, her eyes fixed on me.
"Don't ask!" I said briefly, staring coldly into her eyes.
I hear if an introvert puts more quality than quantity in friendship. They are more likely to have friendship with just a few that close to them, or in their small friendship circle. They prefer to be friends with a few people but deep, like now... the three of us. She showed her expression when chatting with my little sister, and threw out her poker face... for now. They had known each other since my sister was four years old, which meant that it had been a year gone, and they were still the same as usual. Maybe this is what Emy considers her as a friend. Considering she's a bird that is very difficult to interact in social life, so I am very happy to see her chatting in a friendly and relaxed manner with my little sister. Because she's more open in expressing her feelings when with her.
Our first meeting, about a year ago. After the end of the writing contest in that year, my little sister and I had a fight... a fight between siblings. I don't remember what we were fighting for, at dusk that day, which was certain after a little fight, Lisa cried and ran towards the edge of the lake. Of course I chased after her, and when I looked for her, I saw her laughing cheerfully with a girl who have feather color that blended between orange light. And then it turns out, the girl became my classmate and got the same guidance from Aryna, a novelist.
"Congratulations to you too, Sis Emy..." my sister smiled at her.
"Thanks..." she replied to her smile.
"But for me, still... my brother's story is number one." my sister turned to look at me,"I don't care what other people say, or what others judge... for me, my brother is the number one bird in the world... because, he is my hero."
Her childish nature sometimes gives the impression if she is very spoiled, especially to me. That's because almost all day when at home, she always spends all his time with me rather than with our parents who are always busy working. That doesn't mean I'm a siscon, though, like in manga or anime.
"Look... who won this match?" I gave a mocking look to Emy.
"So what? We're not even competing." and her poker face appeared. She's really unpredictable bird, and also... a little annoying.
It's been almost an hour since the writing contest was closed this year. The three of us sat on a bench in the cool courtyard of the city hall under a shady tree that circled the courtyard. The shadow of these trees protects us from the blazing sun. Although in my opinion, it's not really that hot... considering the city has a low average temperature throughout the year. But, what's wrong with cooling off for a while in the quiet city hall?
"Where are your parents, Emy?" I asked her, who was busy talking to my sister.
"Emy turned to look at me, "At home." she answered curtly.
"Oh..." I stopped my next questions, because I knew where this conversation would go, "Oh yes... did you see Hyacinthum G?" I asked once again, changing the subject.
"He's gone home." Emy answered, in her flat tone.
"I see. His parents have picked him up."
"No..." Emy interrupted, "He came home alone..."
"..." I just paused, waiting for her to continue her words.
"He was the earliest bird to leave this city hall. After he got the trophy and the award, he immediately walked out of the city hall without looking anywhere." she continued.
"Too bad... I wanted to ask for something from him."
"Here..." Emy suddenly handed me a stacked paper that was put together with a paper clip to me, "This is what you want to ask for, right?"
"What is this?" I asked, still not knowing what paper she handed me.
"f... a copy of the script written by Hyacinthum G. I've finished reading it, so you can borrow it." Emy looked smile a little when she gave a stack of paper which made her show her expression a little bit.
"Thanks..." I grabbed a stack of A4-size paper, "717 pages?!"
"Right... amazing, isn't it?!" Emy exclaimed happily, smiling broadly at me. Very rarely does she show her expression like this... this is such a very rare moment to remember, "Don't lose a page, you understand?"
"Yes, yes... I understand." I replied, "What's this? You look different today?" I asked, finding out the reason behind this rare moment.
"I don't know?" Emy paused for a moment, stared at the ground and let out a long sigh before looked at me, "If you read the whole story, I think you will find the answer." she smiled faintly.
I didn't immediately reply her, because a gust of wind blew between us, a new breeze in the summer... the wind blew long enough to be able to fly some petals from trees near us. The petals on the wind felt caressing our feathers... a cool breeze coming from the lake in the early summer was so comfortable when we hid in the shade of this tree.
No one of us spoke after that, Emy and I just fell silent enjoying the view of the Moosehead lake that spread the light of the sun from the cloudless blue sky. Without me knowing it turned out that we had been sitting on this bench for more than an hour, and the town hall had begun to feel quiet, so we could hear melodious sound of the wind that shook the leaves beside us. Maybe it was that melodious voice that caused my little sister, Lisa, to sleep beside me... she leaned her tiny head on my shoulder while holding my trophy.
'Well, I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying this scene for a moment.' I thought, gently pat her head.
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Meanwhile...
3rd person POV
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In the administration room of a hospital that seems busy serving patients who want to seek treatment, and to get it, they have to wait for their turn to register themselves. In the midst of the bustle, a little blue bird boy appeared with a cheerful face while carrying a trophy and an award on his wings. He ran across the administration room, which was busy passing by the nurses, until one of them saw him and greeted him with a little reprimand...
"Oh Blu?" One of the nurses who was carrying a sheet of paper containing a list of patients, saw the male blue bird named Blu, who had just run past her, "I told you not to run in the hospital."
Blu turned, and looked at the nurse who had reprimanded him, "Oh I'm sorry..." he lowered his head as a gesture of apology, "I'm just too happy now..."
"Oh, I see. Hmm... let me guess, that trophy and that award, eh? You definitely won a writing contest this year, am I right?" the nurse asked, trying to guess what caused his excitement.
"Right... I got first place...!" Blu replied with a cheerful face.
"Wow, that's amazing... I think someday, you will become a great writer like your mother."
"Yes. Therefore... I want to immediately show this success to my mother. She said if this was the most efficacious medicine for her."
"That's good for you, and of course, your mother will definitely get well soon. Oh and... congratulations on your first place. I'm proud of you." the nurse smiled, giving him a cheerful greeting.
Blu nodded cheerfully, "Thank you..." then continued running down a long hallway with a four meter wide in front of him. A hallway with a black ceramic floor, with white walls that he always met in the hallway of this hospital. The silence, and the smell of chemical medicine... his steps that echoed in the silent hospital hallway always accompanied himself. With a cheerful face, he headed for a treatment room number 147 on behalf of Helen Gunderson. He knocked on the door shortly after arriving in front of it.
"Please come in..."
An answer came from inside. Then, Blu opened the door and found an adult female with the same feathers color as his, except that it was more faded, sitting on her patient bed, and smiling at Blu.
She is Blu's mother...
An opened large window becomes the way of the dazzling sunlight to enter the room, so that it can be clearly seen that the color of Blu's mother's feathers fades more than his. An IV penetrates the vein in her left wing, and that is also connected to a half-full infusion bottle to her left, close to the window. Near the patient bed, there is also a three-legged-table with some sunflowers on it. And... there is a sofa adjacent to the large window which is also used for air circulation, thus making this room feel cool, but also warm, then, a bathroom for patient is in the corner of the room, close to the sofa. The walls and ceiling of the room were all plain white. The lights embedded in the white ceiling illuminate the floor of the room which is brown, contrast to the others, with motifs like wood.
The sunflowers, in a flower vase, are shining brightly, like the sun in summer. It's no surprise that both ancient and modern birds associated the Sunflower with warmth, positivity, power, strength, and happiness since it was such a strong resemblance to the sun itself. With those sunflowers, it is hoped that they can have a positive impact on Blu's mother.
With a big smile, Blu's mother said, "Congratulations on your first place, Blu. I'm very proud of you."
Hearing that, Blu's smile grew wider, his face became more cheerful and seemed to glow when he was in the sunshine...
"How did you find out?" Blu ran to his mother's patient bed.
"Of course because you are my son, Hyacinthum G."
"So, are you feeling better?" Blu asked again.
"Yes. The most efficacious medicine is your success. isn't it?"
"Then..." Blu paused for a moment,"Then... I'm gonna always get first place... I will continue to write until you really feel better."
"Thanks... sweety." Blu's mother patted her son's head. With her faded wings, she caressed his blue feathers.
The conversation between mother and son seemed so harmonious... under the warm light, their smiles grew warmer.
"Oh yes, mom... where's daddy?" Blu asked, looking around the room.
"Your father is out to buy something, soon he..." his mother hadn't finished saying when an open door sound was heard, then an adult male bird entered.
"Oh, you're here apparently, son..."
Blu turned his head, staring at an adult male blue macaw that had the same feather color as his, only darker, and of course his beak was the same as Blu's. He is Blu's father, David. His black eye-bags showed him lacking sleep on his sluggish face. But with a big smile, and two plastic bags on both wings, he said gleefully, "What a perfect time, Blu. You come at the right time... I just bought some breads, and a milk box. Let's have breakfast together, son. You haven't had breakfast, have you?"
Blu didn't answer, but his stomach did it...
"Hahaha..." Blu's father, David, laughed at his son's stomach rumbling, "Let's have breakfast together." he walked to a wooden table near the patient bed, and put the things he had just bought on it.
"I'm sorry, David..." Blu's mother, Helen said in a weak tone, "I rarely make breakfast for you now."
"I told you... no need to apologize." David looked at his wife with a smile,"Now you just rest, so that tonight we can have dinner together at home. Your condition is getting better, that's what the doctor said, right?"
Helen smiled, "You're really a good man..."
"What do you mean? I'm indeed a good man. You just realized it now?" David replied with a rather boastful tone.
"And also a little arrogant..." Helen continued, staring sharply at him... grinning.
"Hahaha..." David laughed off, "I'm just kidding..." he then rummaged through his groceries, and grabbed a box of milk in it, "Here Blu... your favorite drink." He handed over the milk box to his son who sat next to his mother.
"Thank you, dad..." Blu replied, grabbing that milk box.
While Blu's father is preparing their small breakfast, Blu seems to be chatting with his mother with a cheerful face. His expression was completely inversely proportional to him this morning, in the town hall. His mother told him a lot about her past, when she was still studying with her friends, at the same university. She also told Blu when she first started writing. She said if in the past, her mother, or Blu's grandmother was also a writer, although not as famous as herself. But since then, the writter with the pen name 'G' began to be known to the world, starting with Anicius G, or his mother, and maybe in the future... Hyacinthum G will also be famous in the world. Well, that's what she hoped for. This is like the tradition in the Gunderson family, the blood of great writers flowing inside him.
"It's done..." Blu's father held two pieces of medium-sized sandwiches on both wings.
Two pieces of sandwiches, well... not sandwiches more precisely, because it's just bread. Given that the food brought to the patient's room must be considered, because it can cause contamination.
That is an unwritten rule in every hospital...
Father and son, eating the bread and sat together on a sofa that was close to the window. Eating the breakfast while staring out the window... staring at the blue sky as far as the eye can see, without any clouds blocking it. Beneath them lay a wide plain of trees under the hot sun that was already high above the sky. So in other words, they have breakfast in the afternoon...
"Do you want some, mom?" Blu offered his bread to his mother, who had since been staring at him with a smile.
"No, thank you. I've had breakfast, with hospital-style food, you know that right? That kind of thing." Blu's mother chuckled, then her expression began to change, her smile faded, and she lowered her face, looked at the blanket that covered her wings, and whispered to herself...
Chapter 15 : Old Chapters Part 2, A Moment to Remember
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"All I want is that we could be together for a longer time... Blu."
And done...
For those of you who might be wondering, why in the previous chapter I didn't bring up Lisa, OC owned by Alexriolover95, but I was only mentioned her. And here she is... Lisa appears in this chapter.
I guess that's it... thank you guys for taking the time to read this chapter. If you either like it or not make sure to leave a review... you may criticize, advise, or do whatever you want. But nonetheless, I hope you guys enjoy it.
I'll see you again very very soon... I hope.
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A few hours later...
A clear night covers the city of Moose Lake. The cold moonlight is reflected by the surface of the lake that shines by starlight. The temperature at night decreases drastically... the temperature is close to zero Celsius, even though it's summer. As with the rest of Minnesota, Moose Lake has a humid continental climate. Similar to the rest of the northern half of the state it has the warm-summer variety with relatively cool nights year-round. Winter temperatures are very cold but dry compared to summer.
The trees that circled the lake, their leaves seemed motionless... none of the wind blew tonight, and under one of the many trees, there was a house, with one of its room still bright in the light. it looked so striking in the darkness, remembering that it was midnight and most people were asleep at that time, especially on a cold night... the feeling of wanting to lie down as soon as possible on a soft, warm and comfortable bed. But not with one of the houses near the crossroads. A room facing the lake that still looks brightly lit by the stars of the ocean. Two adult blue macaws seemed to be talking about something serious in that room...
"So, you already know about that official letter?" asked the male, sitting on the bed next to his wife.
"I do know about that." replied the female, his wife, "Let me be clear again... will you accept the assignment?
Accompanied by the light of the night-lamp next to their bed... the dim light of that night-lamp, coupled with the silence of the night, made the conversation between them look so heavy.
The male... her husband fall silent shortly after hearing his wife asking the same question. He then smiled at her, "Of course not, honey... Antarctica is a very far continent, you know... I can't possibly leave you two here alone."
Hearing his answer, his wife's face instead showed a disappointed expression. She sighed before saying something completely different from her husband's expectations, "I wish you didn't say that..."
"What do you mean, Helen?" her husband still didn't understand the meaning of his wife's words, named Helen.
"I'm begging you, David... accept that assignment."
"Don't you feel sorry for Blu's condition?!" her husband named David... he suddenly raised his tone.
"Shhhs... lower your voice. Blu's sleeping in his room..." Helen whispered to her husband who then realized his mistake.
"Why did you force me to accept that assignment? Even though your own condition is also not very healthy, you know..." David lowered his tone.
Helen smiled then explained the reason in a soft tone, "Honey... don't worry about us. Accept that assignment to meet Blu's needs in the future. For me, who doesn't have much time left, I'm more worried about his future. For now and so on, what Blu needs is money. I hate to admit it, but it's true."
David didn't say anything. He still listens to his wife's explanation...
"In a few years, our son will soon study at a junior high school, then high school... and in the next few years he must go to university. You see, being a writer is not easy... I've gone through various bitter experiences that decorate my life. Our tears and sweat have wet our script, and so many papers that we have torn and thrown away." his wife continued to explain the reason.
"But..." David began to speak, and lowered his gaze, "Antarctica is... a very distant continent..."
"Hey..." Helen grasped her husband's wings, who looked confused, "I already feel better, you know... that's what the doctor said."
David raised his face, staring at his wife's smile...
"I told you, don't worry about us. I will wholeheartedly take care of Blu for the rest of my life..." Helen continued, still smiling,"Trust me... honey."
